In lieu of my column I thought I’d share some comic book-related links which have made me happy this week. As insane as it must seem to not take a break from producing my column over Christmas and New Year, it was easier to write over the holidays because all my design clients took time off... But today they’re back in force, everyone wants to start 2015 with a new logo, letterhead, leaflet, or website. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, but for this week I hope you enjoy links.
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The always great Gilbert Hernandez is doing a weekly comic strip at Vice Magazine. Only five episodes are up so far, but it’s already very satisfyingly bonkers, insightful, and funny:
This color process post by Nathan Fairbairn was deeply satisfying because Chris Burnham's sparse, elegant lines on "Nameless” gave Fairbairn the space to really go nuts with his painting. It is a highly collaborative way to work and a lovely example of the strength of the medium. The book also includes a lovingly crafted Rian Hughes logo, so that’s a nice bonus.
http://nathanfairbairn.tumblr.com/post/107316841320/nameless-cover-process
Then there are the comics of Lauren Weinstein, who Tucker Stone introduced me to. I’m particularly fascinated by her “Carriers” project, which is so intimate as to seem almost intrusive. I’m in such admiration of her ability to communicate such painful and personal experiences with such a deft touch:
http://nautil.us/blog/carriers-a-webcomic-on-health-luck-and-life
And Steven Hamaker has been updating Plox again!,It’s all about people who play World of Warcraft, but you’ll have to tell me if it’s realistic or accurate, I like it partly because I don’t play online games. In the abstract I think the situations seem more entertaining, plus it gives me a little insight into a world some of my friends are deeply into. That and I dig his characters:
The recent pairing of Morrissey and Charlie Brown seems inevitable in retrospect but who could have foreseen how beautifully the tragedy would be amplified? (I think I still prefer Calvin & Muad’Dib but that’s because I like Dune a lot more than Morrissey.):
http://thischarmingcharlie.tumblr.com/
I have to admit, I’ve been completely ignoring superheroes. Even though they’re still my first true love within the medium, none of them are doing it for me right now. I’ll keep trying though, and meanwhile here is a link about “super cows” instead:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/05/devon-farmer-forced-offload-nazi-bred-super-cows
This has nothing to do with comic books, but it will appeal to those of us who’re into the slightly OCD aspect of being a collector and observer. Soderbergh has posted his comprehensive list of everything he watched and read last year. I keep reading it and thinking of the various ways I would like to diagram the information, it really lends itself to infographic representation (infographics = the love child of comic books + insane lists of facts):
http://extension765.com/sdr/22-seen-read-2014
And finally there is the always wonderful list of 50 comics positives by Tom Spurgeon, which is a great upbeat way to start the year:
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/heres_all_50_of_this_years_comics_positive_linked_to/